Charging apparatus and method thereof

ABSTRACT

A charging apparatus applied in a portable electronic product comprises a charging battery, a controlling chip, an adjusting transistor, a feedback circuit and a charger with modulateable output. The charger has an external alternating-current power source, and the charger provides a changeable voltage to the charging battery of the portable electronic product. Signals of electric quantities of the charging battery is captured by the feedback circuit to feedback to the charger to adjust its output voltage and then control the charger to charge the charging battery to achieve changeable voltage. Besides, only use the switch transistor to control charging the charging battery to reduce spare amounts and loss of circuit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a charging apparatus, and more specifically, to a charging apparatus controlling a charger as changes of a voltage of a battery.

2. Description of the Related Art

By the progress of electronic technology and widespread of electronic communication products, portable electronic products, such as notebook computer, PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) and digital cameras, etc., are commonly used. For easy to carry, these electronic products are developed to light, thin, short, small products. Besides, lightweight and portable, easy to carry, and long time supplying power are the conditions for users to choose which to buy. Since the power consumption of portable electronic products is pretty high, it is needed to charge the power battery so as to achieve long time supplying power. Recently, lithium-ion batteries are commonly used. Besides lightweight and big capacity, lithium-ion batteries do not have memorizing feature. Lithium-ion batteries are continuously charged with a constant voltage.

Please refer to FIG. 4, showing a block diagram of a charging apparatus of a prior art portable electronic product. The prior art charging apparatus comprises a portable electronic product. The portable electronic product has a battery 30, a charging unit (Charge IC) 31, a programmable chip 32, and a charger 4. The charger 4 has an external alternating-current power source.

Please keep on referring to FIG. 4. The charging unit 31 is a switched direct-current to direct-current decompaction unit to supply charging current to the battery 30. However, the programmable chip 32 records data and conditions needed by charging the battery 30. The data and conditions are all pre-set. For example, how much voltage and current is needed to charge, which conditions should be met then the battery 30 can be charged, and which power source should be cut off after the battery 30 is full charged, etc.

When detecting the battery 30 is needed to charge, the programmable chip 32 will send signals to notify the charging unit 31 to charge the battery 30. After that, the programmable chip 32 notifies the charging unit 31 to switch off the charging power source to stop charging.

However, the prior art charging apparatus can use detecting and determining methods to control charging of the battery 30, but the prior art charging unit 31 cannot work alone, it should pair with the programmable chip 32 to operate to limit constituted elements. This kind of combination needs more elements and does not meet economic effects. Because the voltages between the initial stage and telophase of charging the battery 30 much differ, the output voltage of existing external charger is constant and unchangeable, the loss of circuit increases to cause instability of the products and shorten the life.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the present invention is to provide a charging apparatus to capture signals of electric quantities of a battery by a feedback circuit to feedback to a charger to control the charger charging the battery.

The charging apparatus achieving abovementioned objective comprises a charging battery, a controlling chip, an adjusting transistor, a feedback circuit, and a charger with modulateable output. The controlling chip detects electric quantities of the charging battery and feedback signals of the electric quantities by the feedback circuit to the charger with modulateable output to adjust its output voltage. The controlling chip controls the adjusting transistor to adjust the output voltage to charge the charging battery.

The charging apparatus is applied in a portable electronic product.

The controlling chip is a programmable chip.

The adjusting transistor is a transistor or a field effect transistor.

The charger with modulateable output has an external alternating-current power source capable of modulating output voltage and output current of the charger.

The charging battery, controlling chip, adjusting transistor, and feedback circuit can be packed to a battery packet type.

The output voltage is a little higher than end voltage of the charging battery.

The charger with modulateable output responds to the signals of the electric quantities to modulate its output voltage.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a charging method to capture the signals of the electric quantities of a battery to feedback to a charger to control the charger charging the battery.

The charging method achieving the above objectives comprises the following steps:

Using a controlling chip to detect the electric quantities of a charging battery and determine whether the battery is needed to be charged;

The controlling chip controlling a charger with modulateable output through a feedback circuit; and

The charger with modulateable output adjusts output according to the signals of the feedback circuit as a charging source of the charging battery.

The controlling chip controls an adjusting transistor to adjust the output voltage of the charger to charge the charging battery.

The controlling chip controls the charger with modulateable output through the feedback circuit to directly charge the charging battery in a constant voltage.

The controlling chip controls the charger with modulateable output through the feedback circuit to directly charge the charging battery in a constant current.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a charging apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a charging apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a charging method of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a prior art charging apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Please refer to FIG. 1, showing a block diagram of a charging apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The charging apparatus 100 of the present invention comprises a charging battery 10, a controlling chip 11, an adjusting transistor 12, a feedback circuit 13, and a charger with modulateable output 2, wherein the charging battery 10, controlling chip 11, adjusting transistor 12, and feedback circuit 13 are embodied in a portable electronic product 1.

Please keep on referring to FIG. 1. The controlling chip 11 is a programmable chip. The controlling chip 11 is used to detect electric quantities of the charging battery 10 and determine a status of the charging battery 10. The feedback circuit 13 returns signals of the electric quantities detected by the controlling chip 11 to the charger with modulateable output 2. The charger with modulateable output 2 has an external alternating-current power source, and the charger with modulateable output 2 provides an electric quantity to the charging battery 10 of the portable electronic product 1. The charger with modulateable output 2 adjusts its output voltage according to the signals of the electric quantities delivered by the feedback circuit 13 to charge the charging battery 10. Besides, the adjusting transistor 12 is used to control the charger with modulateable output 2 charging the charging batter 10, or cutting off the adjusting transistor 12 to stop charging the charging batter 10.

The adjusting transistor 12 can be a transistor or a field effect transistor to control the charging voltage and current of the charging battery 10.

To charge the charging battery 10 of the portable electronic product 1, first the controlling chip 11 is used to detect the electric quantities of the charging battery 10 and determine whether the electric quantities of the charging battery 10 are insufficient, and it is needed to charge the charging battery 10. The detected and determined information is transferred to signals, and the feedback circuit 13 delivers the signals of the electric quantities to the charger with modulateable output 2. The charger with modulateable output 2 adjust its output voltage according to the received signals of the electric quantities, meanwhile the controlling chip 11 controls the adjusting transistor 12 to adjust the output voltage so that the output voltage of the charger with modulateable output 2 is a little higher than the end voltage of the charging battery 10, i.e. about 0.3˜1V. At this time, the adjusting transistor 12 is controlled to charge the charging battery 10. When the controlling chip 11 detects the electric quantities of the charging battery 10 and determine the electric quantities of the charging battery 10 is full charged, the controlling chip 11 is used to control the adjusting transistor 12 so that the adjusting transistor 12 has a status of cut-off point to stop the charger with modulateable output 2 charging the charging battery 10.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention is embodied in a portable electronic product 1. The charging battery 10, controlling chip 11, adjusting transistor 12, and feedback circuit 13 can be packed to a battery packet type and then combined into the portable electronic product 1, instead of building-in the portable electronic product 1 so that it can be produced massively and can apply in any electronic product.

Please refer FIG. 2, showing a block diagram of the charging apparatus of another embodiment of the present invention. The charging apparatus 100 of the present invention comprises a charging battery 10, a controlling chip 14 with a constant voltage and current, a feedback circuit 13, and a charger with modulateable output 2, wherein the charging battery 10, controlling chip 14 with a constant voltage and current, and feedback circuit 13 are embodied in a portable electronic product 1.

Please keep on referring to FIG. 2. The controlling chip 14 with a constant voltage and current is used to detect the charging quantities needed by the charging battery 10 and determine the status of the charging battery 10. The feedback circuit 13 converts the detected signals of electric quantities and the determined status of the charging battery 10 by the controlling chip 14 to signals and transfer to the charger with modulateable output 2 by a signal transmission line. The charger with modulateable output 2 has an external alternating-current power source. The charger with modulateable output 2 provides an electric quantity to the charging battery 10 of the portable electronic product 1. The charger with modulateable output 2 adjusts the output voltage of the charger with modulateable output 2 according to the received signals of the electric quantities to directly charge the charging battery 10 in a constant voltage or current.

To charge the charging battery 10 of the portable electronic product 1, first the controlling chip 14 with a constant voltage and current is used to detect the electric quantities of the charging battery 10 and determine whether electric quantities of the charging battery 10 are insufficient and it is needed to charge the charging battery 10. The detected and determined information is converted to signals, and the feedback circuit 13 is used to deliver the signals of the electric quantities to the charger with modulateable output 2. The charger with modulateable output 2 adjusts its output voltage according to the received output voltage of the signals of the electric quantities to directly charge the charging battery 10 in a constant voltage or current. When the controlling chip 14 with a constant voltage and current detects the electric quantities of the charging battery 10 and determines the electric quantities of the charging battery 10 is full-charged, the controlling chip 14 with a constant voltage and current is used to control the charger with modulateable output 2 to stop charging the charging battery 10.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention is embodied in a portable electronic product 1. The charging battery 10, controlling chip 14 with a constant voltage and current, and feedback circuit 13 can be packed to a battery packet type and then combined into the portable electronic product 1, instead of building-in the portable electronic product 1 so that it can be produced massively and can apply in any electronic product.

Please refer to FIG. 3 accompanying with FIG. 1, showing a flow chart of the charging method of the present invention. The charging method of the present invention comprises the following steps:

a. Detecting 200:

The controlling chip 11 is used to detect the electric quantities of the charging battery 10.

b. Determining 201:

Meanwhile, the controlling chip 11 is used to determine whether the charging battery 10 needs to be charged or is in a status of full-charged.

c. Feedback 202:

The feedback circuit 13 is used to deliver the signals of the electric quantities of the charging battery 10 detected by the controlling chip 11 to the charger with modulateable output 2.

d. Controlling 203:

The charger with modulateable output 2 is used to adjust the output voltage of the charger with modulateable output 2 according to the received signals of the electric quantities. Meanwhile the controlling chip 11 controls the adjusting transistor 12 to adjust the output voltage so that the output voltage of the charger with modulateable output 2 is a little higher than the end voltage of the charging battery 10.

e. Charging 204:

According to the received feedback signals, the output voltage of the charger with modulateable charge 2 is adjusted to charge the charging battery 10.

f. Stop Charging 205:

According to the received feedback signals, the switch transistor 12 is cut off to stop charging the charging battery 10.

In this embodiment, the controlling chip 11 controls the charger with modulateable output 2 through the feedback circuit 13 to directly charge the charging battery 10 in a constant voltage or current.

These embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope thereof. Many modifications of the embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 

1. A charging apparatus, comprising a charging battery, a controlling chip, an adjusting transistor, a feedback circuit and a charger with modulateable output, said controlling chip detecting electric quantities of said charging battery and feedbacking signals of the electric quantities to said charger with modulateable output by said feedback circuit to adjust output voltage of said charger with modulateable output, and said controlling chip controlling said adjusting transistor to adjust the output voltage to charge said charging battery.
 2. The charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein said charging apparatus is applied in a portable electronic product.
 3. The charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein said controlling chip is a programmable chip.
 4. The charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein said adjusting transistor is either of a transistor and a field effect transistor.
 5. The charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein said charger with modulateable output has an external alternating-current power source capable of modulating output voltage and output current of said charger.
 6. The charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein said charging battery, controlling chip, adjusting transistor, and feedback circuit are packed to a battery package type.
 7. The charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output voltage is a little higher than an end voltage of said charging battery.
 8. The charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein said charger with modulateable output responds to the signals of the electric quantities to modulate its output voltage.
 9. A charging apparatus, comprising a charging battery, a controlling chip, a feedback circuit and a charger with modulateable output, said controlling chip detecting electric quantities of said charging battery and controlling said charger with modulateable output by said feedback circuit, said charger with modulateable output directly charging said charging battery.
 10. The charging apparatus of claim 9, wherein said controlling chip controls said charger with modulateable output through said feedback circuit to directly charge said charging battery with a constant voltage.
 11. The charging apparatus of claim 9, wherein said controlling chip controls said charger with modulateable output through said feedback circuit to directly charge said charging battery with a constant current.
 12. The charging apparatus of claim 9, wherein said charger has an external alternating-current power source capable of modulating output voltage and output current of said charger.
 13. The charging apparatus of claim 9, wherein said charging battery, controlling chip, and feedback circuit are packed to a battery package type.
 14. The charging apparatus of claim 9, wherein said charging apparatus is applied in a portable electronic product.
 15. The charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein said controlling chip with a constant voltage or constant current is a programmable chip.
 16. A charging method comprising the steps of: using a controlling chip to detect electric quantities of a charging battery and meanwhile determine whether said charging battery is needed to be charged; controlling a charger with modulateable output through a feedback circuit by said controlling chip; and adjusting output of said charger with modulateable output according to signals of said feedback circuit as a charging source of said charging battery.
 17. The charging method of claim 16 comprising: said controlling chip controlling an adjusting transistor to adjust output voltage of said charger to charge said charging battery.
 18. The charging method of claim 16 comprising: said controlling chip controlling said charger with modulateable output through said feedback circuit to directly charge said charging battery in a constant voltage.
 19. The charging method of claim 16 comprising: said controlling chip controlling said charger with modulateable output through said feedback circuit to directly charge said charging battery in a constant current. 